Browsing by Author "Torres, Juan Carlos"

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    Cross-species and mammal-to-mammal transmission of clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 with PB2 adaptations
    (2025) Pardo Roa, Catalina; Nelson, Martha I.; Ariyama, Naomi; Aguayo, Carolina; Almonacid Cárdenas, Leonardo Iván; Gonzalez-Reiche, Ana S.; Muñoz, Gabriela; Ulloa, Mauricio; Avila, Claudia; Navarro, Carlos; Reyes, Rodolfo; Castillo Torres, Pablo Nicolás; Mathieu, Christian; Vergara, Ricardo; Gonzalez, Alvaro; Gonzalez, Carmen Gloria; Araya, Hugo; Castillo, Andres; Torres, Juan Carlos; Covarrubias, Paulo; Bustos, Patricia; van Bakel, Harm; Fernandez, Jorge; Fasce, Rodrigo A.; Johow, Magdalena; Neira, Victor; Medina, Rafael
    Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) belonging to lineage 2.3.4.4b emerged in Chile in December 2022, leading to mass mortality events in wild birds, poultry, and marine mammals and one human case. We detected HPAIV in 7,33% (714/9745) of cases between December 2022-April 2023 and sequenced 177 H5N1 virus genomes from poultry, marine mammals, a human, and wild birds spanning >3800 km of Chilean coastline. Chilean viruses were closely related to Peru's H5N1 outbreak, consistent with north-to-south spread down the Pacific coastline. One human virus and nine marine mammal viruses in Chile had the rare PB2 D701N mammalian-adaptation mutation and clustered phylogenetically despite being sampled 5 weeks and hundreds of kilometers apart. These viruses shared additional genetic signatures, including another mammalian PB2 adaptation (Q591K, n = 6), synonymous mutations, and minor variants. Several mutations were detected months later in sealions in the Atlantic coast, indicating that the pinniped outbreaks on the west and east coasts of South America are genetically linked. These data support sustained mammal-to-mammal transmission of HPAIV in marine mammals over thousands of kilometers of Chile's Pacific coastline, which subsequently continued through the Atlantic coastline.
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    Cross-species and mammal-to-mammal transmission of clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 with PB2 adaptations
    (2025) Pardo Roa, Catalina; Nelson, Martha I.; Ariyama, Naomi; Aguayo, Carolina; Almonacid Cárdenas, Leonardo Iván; Gonzalez-Reiche, Ana S.; Muñoz, Gabriela; Ulloa, Mauricio; Avila, Claudia; Navarro, Carlos; Reyes, Rodolfo; Castillo Torres, Pablo Nicolás; Mathieu, Christian; Vergara, Ricardo; Gonzalez, Alvaro; Gonzalez, Carmen Gloria; Araya, Hugo; Castillo, Andres; Torres, Juan Carlos; Covarrubias, Paulo; Bustos, Patricia; van Bakel, Harm; Fernandez, Jorge; Fasce, Rodrigo A.; Johow, Magdalena; Neira, Victor; Medina, Rafael
    Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) belonging to lineage 2.3.4.4b emerged in Chile in December 2022, leading to mass mortality events in wild birds, poultry, and marine mammals and one human case. We detected HPAIV in 7,33% (714/9745) of cases between December 2022-April 2023 and sequenced 177 H5N1 virus genomes from poultry, marine mammals, a human, and wild birds spanning >3800 km of Chilean coastline. Chilean viruses were closely related to Peru's H5N1 outbreak, consistent with north-to-south spread down the Pacific coastline. One human virus and nine marine mammal viruses in Chile had the rare PB2 D701N mammalian-adaptation mutation and clustered phylogenetically despite being sampled 5 weeks and hundreds of kilometers apart. These viruses shared additional genetic signatures, including another mammalian PB2 adaptation (Q591K, n = 6), synonymous mutations, and minor variants. Several mutations were detected months later in sealions in the Atlantic coast, indicating that the pinniped outbreaks on the west and east coasts of South America are genetically linked. These data support sustained mammal-to-mammal transmission of HPAIV in marine mammals over thousands of kilometers of Chile's Pacific coastline, which subsequently continued through the Atlantic coastline.
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    Mass mortality event in South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens) correlated to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreak in Chile
    (2023) Ulloa, Mauricio; Fernandez, Antonio; Ariyama, Naomi; Colom-Rivero, Ana; Rivera, Carlos; Nunez, Paula; Sanhueza, Paola; Johow, Magdalena; Araya, Hugo; Torres, Juan Carlos; Gomez, Paola; Munoz, Gabriela; Aguero, Belen; Alegria, Raul; Medina, Rafael; Neira, Victor; Sierra, Eva
    In Chile, since January 2023, a sudden and pronounced increase in strandings and mortality has been observed among South American (SA) sea lions (Otaria flavescens), prompting significant concern. Simultaneously, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 (HPAIV H5N1) in avian species has emerged since December 2022. To investigate the cause of this unexpected mortality, we conducted a comprehensive epidemiological and pathologic study. One hundred sixty-nine SA sea lions were sampled to ascertain their HPAIV H5N1 status, and long-term stranding trends from 2009 to 2023 were analyzed. In addition, two animals were necropsied. Remarkably, a significant surge in SA sea lion strandings was observed initiating in January 2023 and peaking in June 2023, with a count of 4,545 stranded and deceased animals. Notably, this surge in mortality correlates geographically with HPAIV outbreaks affecting wild birds. Among 168 sampled SA sea lions, 34 (20%) tested positive for Influenza A virus, and 21 confirmed for HPAIV H5N1 2.3.4.4b clade in tracheal/rectal swab pools. Clinical and pathological evaluations of the two necropsied stranded sea lions revealed prevalent neurological and respiratory signs, including disorientation, tremors, ataxia, and paralysis, as well as acute dyspnea, tachypnea, profuse nasal secretion, and abdominal breathing. The lesions identified in necropsied animals aligned with observed clinical signs. Detection of the virus via immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real-time PCR in the brain and lungs affirmed the findings. The findings provide evidence between the mass mortality occurrences in SA sea lions and HPAIV, strongly indicating a causal relationship. Further studies are needed to better understand the pathogenesis and transmission.